This weekend is a
holiday for our daughter, Amy, and her family as much as it is for
us. Amy and Dave have two lovely children aged 4 and 14 months.
Unfortunately, Dave was unable to join us due to work commitments and
looking after their dog. The choice of site was down to the
enjoyment of us all but more so the children.
We arrived at the
site about 7 pm having travelled after Claire finished work. The
traffic wasn't too bad but we were following a trailered traction
engine heading for the Great Dorset Steam Fair so the going was
fairly slow. The access to the site is down a very steep road way
passing the camping section and mobile homes down to the reception.
We were provided with a map to find our allotted pitch – yes the
site was that big! We were also instructed how to park up and set up
the caravan – for safety reasons so we weren't too close to our
neighbour. The ground is level so this was a fairly easy task. A
quick wash and change and we were off to get something to eat.
The pub we chose was
in a village we had been to before although not to the pub. The food
was different from normal pub grub but very varied. I chose Wild
Mushroom with Blue Vinney & Cream Strogonoff and Mike had Bacon,
Cheese and Mushroom pasty with chunky chips. The food was good
although not much cheesy flavours and my mushrooms were very tough
even though we were told they had been soaked for 24 hours.
Night time was a
first. Mike had bought me a Duvalay in a bid to help me to sleep (I’m
a very bad sleeper in the caravan). It has a memory foam mattress
with a quilt all joined together with mattress cover and duvet cover.
It was comfy but on top of the caravan mattresses which maybe a
little too soft meaning the memory foam couldn't do it’s job.
Yes, I didn't sleep much that night either.
Friday saw us awake
fairly early. We decided to go and have breakfast at the Egg Cup Tea
Rooms near Swyer as we’d caravanned there before. Nothing had
changed much but breakfast was good.
Back at the caravan
and we got the awning out to put up for the first time (it came with the caravan when we bought it). Well, we both thought there
would be ‘words’ but we were both very civil and managed to get
all the poles sorted and in their place by joint thinking and
reasoning. Brilliant. Awning up and cup of tea made in 2 hours. Yes,
it did take that long but as we’d not put an awning up before on
our own, I think we did very well. And we’re still talking!
Amy and Dave arrived
with the kids in the afternoon. Yea! Josh was really excited. Poor Dave having to go
back to work. A walk around the site to see what is on offer and
where it is, dinner and an energetic play with Josh along with an
exploratory walk then bed for the kiddies. Gosh I’m tired!
Slept better! Not
all night but much better. Josh woke at 7.10 so we had a lovely
cuddle before Sophia and Amy woke up. Poor Amy hadn’t slept much
not due to Sophia but because of the cold.
We had breakfast in
our PJ’s then by the time we got dressed we were able to go
swimming. Wow, what a noise affair! The entrance hall, changing rooms
and pool were all so echoey that we couldn't hear each other
speaking! The pool area was good though; there was a walk around
area with water spouts going at varying directions, a pool with a
climbing frame affair with slides into the water, a slide on it’s
own and a baby pool and a normal swimming pool. Josh made a bee line
for the climbing frame but whilst we were waiting for the slide a
huge bucket of water sloshed out and splashed us both. It was a shock
as we’d not got in the water by this time. Needless to say we came
off the frame and unfortunately didn't get back on it. We did,
however, have several goes on the separate slide which was huge fun!
Josh also swam 2 widths of the pool with his arm bands whilst Mike
cared for Sophia in the baby pool. The water was non too warm and
Sophia quickly became cold so we got out. We were all glad to be
outside and in relative quiet!
After lunch, Mike
went shopping with Josh whilst Sophia went for a nap. Amy sat and did
some crochet and I too went to sleep. Sophia woke but settled on me
and slept for a while longer – it was lovely! We got to wondering
where Mike had got to as they had been gone for so long. All was
revealed when they returned – they had been stuck in a traffic jam
of a diversion as there had been an accident on the A35.
By this time we
decided to go to West Bay to do some crabbing, the traffic jam was
still evident. Luckily we didn’t have to go the same way!
West Bay was quite
busy but we found a place to drop the crab line. It had only just
touched the surface of the water when Josh asked it we had a crab
yet. He soon lost interest so we both went onto the beach and then
for a paddle. Some of the waves were quite high so we got a little
wet but we had a lot of fun.
Josh went to the
park beside the car park. It was fantastic! Well thought out and
unusual play equipment. Needless to say Josh went on everything
including climbing to the top of a triangular rope climbing frame
into a ‘grows nest’. He feigned not being able to get down but he
did do it himself – I wasn't going up for him!
Back to the caravan
for dinner then onto the bouncy castle. He was having lots of fun on
it when some older children got on and took over. I asked the
attendant if they should be on it but all he did was ask them not to
be too boisterous! Josh came off it then tried to go on the larger
one but he was too small. He was rather deflated when we left.
It has been a full
day so hopefully both children will be asleep before long so we can
get to bed! All the fresh sea air and exercise is tiring!
Sunday saw us begin
the day with a get together in bed. It was lovely – again! After
breakfast we went to Weymouth. I wanted to see the Dragon Boat Racing
and I’d hyped Josh up to really want to see them too but I think he
was a little disappointed. It was really windy and cold and there
was so many other tempting things to see and do.
 |
| I think that she did get some ice cream inside her |
After lunch, Josh had
a go on the trampolines with bungee straps for higher jumping. He did
quite well although he didn’t really have the weight to bring
himself down to spring up again. An ice-cream later then back to the
caravan with Josh, Sophia and Poppy (me) falling asleep!
Amy then went swimming
with Josh. I'm glad we didn’t go with him – it was just too
noisy! Bangers, mash 'n' beans for dinner then muffins that Amy had bought – mmmmm
Another very full
day – another very exhausted Mum, Poppy and Pops.
